Our Tips for Great Graduation Hair 🎓

Congratulations Class of 2025 🎉! We’re officially heading into summer graduation season here in Liverpool, and that means it’s time to start planning your look for the special day. Whether you’re the glowing grad or proud friends and family, our event hair tips will help you get photo-ready, feel your best, and help your hair endure anything the day throws at it. 

A Few Weeks Before

Start by booking your colour and/or cut appointment around two to three weeks before the graduation day. This gives your hair time to settle and ensures it looks its absolute best on the day.

Next, start thinking about your style in advance: Loose, beachy waves? A sleek up-do? A bouncy blow-out? The prep you’ll need to ensure your hair looks great all day depends on your chosen style , so we recommend having an idea in mind ahead of time. 

Another important consideration is how your hairstyle will work with your graduation cap; Styles where the hair sits high on your head, like buns and high ponies may not sit comfortably under your hat, so opt for hair-ups that sit low, or instead let your hair flow free. 

If you plan to come into the salon for your graduation day styling, you might want to book a hair-up consultation ahead of the day to try out the styles you’re considering and get some advice on how to best prep your hair ahead of the day.

Did you know that we offer hair-ups and event hair styling? Students can also enjoy discounts with our student price lists across all of our salons, perfect for making sure you look your best on your graduation day. Book a Dressing Long Hair consultation or appointment here

Our Castle Street and Graduates Bold Street salons are less than a 10 minute drive from the University of Liverpool, Liverpool Hope and Liverpool John Moores University campuses, making them perfectly situated for Liverpool graduates.

The Days Before

Prep is key for event hair that holds, so start your preparation a few days before your graduation. Here are some of our must-do preparation steps: 

1. Avoid washing your hair on the day 

Freshly washed hair can be too soft and slippery, which can cause pins or clips to slip or curls to drop faster. Instead, wash your hair a day before your graduation, apply products and gently blow dry your hair.

2. Choose the right shampoo and conditioner

For straight or fine hair, stick with a lightweight shampoo and conditioner, and skip anything too rich like masks or deep moisturisers that can weigh the hair down or make it too supple to hold a style well. For curly hair, opt for a moisturising conditioner and shampoo, to help lock-in moisture and leave your curls soft and defined.

3. Prep with products

The right styling products can help add shine, hold and texture to your hair, creating the perfect base for styling. The most suitable products will depend on the style you’ll be creating and your hair’s natural texture, but if you’re using heat tools you should always apply a heat protectant first to reduce damage.

 If you’re creating an up-do, curls or a blow-out, consider using a texturising spray or mousse to give your hair extra hold, whilst still leaving it workable. If you have naturally curly hair, apply gel or serum to wet hair to define your curls and lock-in moisture, before blow-drying on low heat using a diffuser attachment. To protect your curls whilst you sleep and reduce friction, use a silk pillowcase, scarf or bonnet. 

On the Day

Creating and perfecting your style takes time and dedication, so you want to give it the best chance of lasting and looking great for as long as possible. Setting may require you to put some extra time aside, but it can make a world of difference to how well your style lasts, which is why we recommend taking these steps to improve the longevity of your style: 

1. Leave time to set

Letting warm curls or waves fall immediately after styling can cause them to drop quickly and shorten the life of the style. To make your style last longer, secure warm sections in place, using pins for curls or waves and velcro rollers for blow-dries. To pin a curl, gently lift the curl, push it back up toward the scalp and pin it in place to cool and set.

 You can also use an extra blast of heat from your dryer using a diffuser attachment over the set hair, then finish with a light misting of hairspray for an extra dash of hold.

Wait until your hair has cooled completely before removing your rollers or pins, and then tip your head forward raking your fingers through your curls, from nape to crown.

2. Finish with spray

Finish with a light mist of hairspray, held about 30cm away from your hair for even distribution. Shine spray or a small amount of a gel definer can also be used to add extra hold and shine, creating a stunning finish ✨

Pack a Graduation Day Hair Kit

Caps, hugs, and unpredictable British weather can all put your style to the test, so  bringing a small touch-up kit is a great idea. We recommend bringing some extra bobbles and pins if you’re going for an up-do, a wide-tooth comb to gently refresh curls, waves or fringes, and even a mini hairspray for impromptu touch-ups, making sure your hair stays camera-ready for all those photos throughout the day. 

Let Us Take Care of Your Graduation Hair

If you'd rather leave the styling to the pros, we’d love to help you shine. From stunning blow-dries to elegant hair-ups, we’ve got the expertise to help you look and feel amazing on your graduation day.

Book your appointment or consultation today